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    North Korea fires second missile in a week

    SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea yesterday, with South Korea’s military warning the second such weapons test in less than a week showed clear signs of progress.

    The early-morning launch came as the United Nations (UN) Security Council met in New York to discuss last week’s test of what Pyongyang called a hypersonic missile, although Seoul has cast doubt on that claim.

    But the South Korean military said the “suspected ballistic missile” launched yesterday had reached hypersonic speeds – a sign of “progress” from last week’s test.

    In the decade since leader Kim Jong-un took power, North Korea has seen rapid advances in its military technology at the cost of international sanctions.

    Yesterday’s missile landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. While there were no immediate reports of damage, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the launch “extremely regrettable”.

    People watch a television programme showing a file image of north korea’s missile launch at the seoul railway station in seoul, south korea. PHOTO: AP

    US Forces Korea said the test “highlights the destabilising impact of the DPRK’s illicit weapons programme”, using the acronym of North Korea’s official name. The missile, fired towards the sea east of the peninsula yesterday at around 7.27am flew 700 kilometres at an altitude of around 60 kilometres at Mach 10 speed, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

    Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of Mach 5 and higher and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.

    The UN Security Council meeting to discuss Pyongyang’s weapons programmes came after six countries, including the United States (US) and Japan, called on North Korea to “engage in meaningful dialogue towards our shared goal of complete denuclearisation”.

    Pyongyang had likely planned the latest launch to coincide with the UN meeting “to maximise its political impact”, researcher at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy Shin Beom-chul told AFP.

    He said the launch looked like a hypersonic missile test, judging by the purported speed, but warned against reading too much into it.

    “Since South Korea claimed (the January 5 test) wasn’t a hypersonic missile referring to the speed, Pyongyang may have tried to showcase its maximum speed,” this time around, he said.

    Hypersonic missiles were listed among the “top priority” tasks for strategic weapons in its current five-year plan, and it announced its first test – of the Hwasong-8 – in September last year.

    yongyang has also said it had successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missiles, a long-range cruise missile, and a train-launched weapon in 2021.

    The new tests come as North Korea has refused to respond to US appeals for talks.

    At a key meeting of North Korea’s ruling party last month, Kim vowed to continue building up the country’s defence capabilities, without mentioning America.

    Omicron pushes Hong Kong’s import supply chain to brink of collapse

    BLOOMBERG – Hong Kong’s Omicron outbreak is dealing a double whammy to businesses.

    Not only will new social distancing curbs crimp revenue for retailers and restaurants, a slashing of flights they rely on to bring everything from Australian cherries to wagyu beef into the financial hub is also set to raise costs and boost inflation. Cathay Pacific Airways, the city’s most connected airline, has cancelled hundreds of flights.

    Cargo capacity could drop below one-fifth of pre-pandemic levels. Logistics costs may surge by 40 per cent within three weeks. Importers expect the price of fruit to rise by 10 per cent.

    In pursuit of a zero-Covid-19 strategy, Hong Kong has shut gyms and cinemas. At the same time, an already fractured supply chain for a city that imports most of its goods has reached a breaking point, with businesses seeing delays in deliveries of staples such as berries and yoghurt and of premium seafood and cheeses.

    The threat of an Omicron-driven surge has spooked Hong Kong, where the vaccination rate is among the lowest for developed economies. Though officials have found only dozens of cases in the community so far, they are tracking at least three separate transmission chains.

    A Cathay Pacific Airways cargo plane. PHOTO: AFP

    Foreigner fined over BND13K for possessing cigarettes

    Fadley Faisal

    The Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered a Bangladeshi man to settle a BND13,760 fine for possessing smuggled cigarettes at his work quarters.

    Md Nazim, 37, would have to serve 13 months’ jail in default of payment of the fine.

    The court heard that the defendant was arrested by Customs preventive officers on discovering that he had kept 16 cartons and 14 packets along with BND684 cash proceeds from illicit sales of the contraband.

    The Customs prosecutor yesterday informed the court that the inspection was carried out at the defendant’s work quarters in Kampong Mengkubau at 9.30pm on December 27, 2021.

    Senior Magistrate Pengiran Hazirah binti Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusof also ordered the cigarettes to be destroyed and cash forfeited.

    UN announces talks to help resolve Sudan’s political crisis

    KHARTOUM (AFP) – The United Nations (UN) will launch talks to help Sudan resolve its escalating political crisis triggered by last year’s military coup, the UN envoy said, earning a mixed response.

    “It is time to end the violence and enter into a comprehensive consultative process,” said UN special representative Volker Perthes, vowing at a press conference to facilitate “indirect talks” between all sides.

    His comments came a day after Sudanese security forces again fired tear gas at anti-coup protesters, leaving two demonstrators dead including one who died on Monday morning from wounds to the head.

    Perthes said consultations would be held with political and social actors along with armed and civil society groups. But he stressed that “the UN is not coming up with any project, draft or vision for a solution”.

    “These are all Sudanese issues for the Sudanese to agree on,” he said, ahead of a scheduled meeting by the UN Security Council today to discuss the crisis in the northeast African country.

    People chant slogans during a protest to denounce the October 2021 military coup in Khartoum, Sudan. PHOTO: AP

    Sudan was thrown into turmoil when Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan launched the power grab on October 25, detaining Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his Cabinet for several weeks.

    The putsch derailed a fragile power-sharing transition between the military and civilian leaders that followed the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

    Crowds of Sudanese have taken to the streets since – sometimes in their tens of thousands – to demand civilian rule.

    At least 63 people have been killed in a violent crackdown, according to medics.

    Later on Monday, Sudan’s ruling sovereign council – formed by Burhan following the coup with himself as its chair – welcomed the UN push.

    In a statement, the council also called for the African Union – which suspended Sudan following the coup – “to back the initiative and contribute to the success of the Sudanese dialogue efforts.”

    The UN-facilitated talks now “aim to support the Sudanese to reach an agreement on a way out of the current crisis,” said Perthes, who heads the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

    Take-Two to buy ‘Farmville’ creator Zynga for USD12.7B

    NEW YORK (AFP) – Video game publisher Take-Two announced on Monday it reached a deal to acquire Farmville creator Zynga for USD12.7 billion, in a major mobile gaming push by the maker of Grand Theft Auto.

    The merger brings Take-Two, a leader in console and personal computing games, together with a company with strength in interactive games played on mobile devices, such as Farmville, which first became a phenomenon in the 2010s on Facebook.

    The deal comes as Take-Two plans more smart phone versions of its games, which also include Red Dead Redemption and NBA2K.

    The transaction also is designed to promote Take-Two’s growth outside of its core markets in the United States and Western Europe. Take-Two officials emphasised that Zynga has a presence in more than 175 countries.

    Zynga’s games are generally free to play and the company generates revenues through the sale of in-game virtual items and advertising. “We are thrilled to announce our transformative transaction with Zynga, which significantly diversifies our business and establishes our leadership position in mobile, the fastest growing segment of the interactive entertainment industry,” Take-Two Chief Executive Strauss Zelnick said in a statement.

    Zelnick, in a conference call with analysts, highlighted Zynga’s expertise in “free-to-play” games which could allow for greater growth in India, parts of Latin America and the Middle East.

    A pedestrian walks in front of a Zynga building in San Francisco. PHOTO: AP

    “We basically have 80 per cent of the world’s geography that is greenfield opportunity for us,” Zelnick said. “Large parts of that geography really is driven by free-to-play and that’s where Zynga’s expertise lies.”

    Zynga’s Chief Executive Officer Frank Gibeau noted a growth opportunity in the deal, citing the combining of “Zynga’s expertise in mobile and next-generation platforms with Take-Two’s best-in-class capabilities and intellectual property”.

    The transaction prices Zynga at USD9.86 per share, a 64-per-cent premium on last Friday’s stock price.

    About one-third of the payment will be in cash and the rest in Take-Two shares.

    Zelnick is set to lead the combined company, with Zynga’s team led by Gibeau and President of Publishing Bernard Kim, overseeing the combined company’s mobile gaming efforts. New York-based Take-Two had revenues of USD3.4 billion at the end of its last fiscal year and just shy of 5,100 employees. San Francisco-based Zynga had revenues of USD2 billion and about 3,000 employees.

    The deal includes a “go shop” provision that allows Zynga and its representatives to solicit and receive alternative bids for 45 days. The transaction is expected to close in the spring of 2022, the companies said. Video gaming specialist at Wedbush Securities Michael Pachter views the proposed purchase as a “wise move” for Take-Two.

    “The deal transforms Take-Two from 10 per cent mobile to over 50 per cent, and mobile is the fastest growing segment of video games,” he said.

    Over 150 discuss F&B industry’s survivability in new norm

    Izah Azahari

    Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) kicked off its first 10-part of the ‘BIBD SME360 Series’ yesterday with a virtual forum discussing the food and beverage (F&B) industry in Brunei.

    The two-day event began with discussions on the market overview during the Transition Phase of the pandemic, reflecting on market sentiments and how F&B businesses are adapting to the new norms.

    Over 150 participants from the F&B industry attended the session yesterday.

    The virtual forum also covered topics on leadership, operational safety, innovations as well as sustainability and social impact – in line with BIBD’s effort to help SMEs rebuild in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

    Speakers included CEO of DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) Javed Ahmad; BIBD Head of Government Relations and Special Projects Haji Mohammad Yusri bin Haji Wahsalfelah; Royal Brunei Culinary (RBC) General Manager Haji Jeff Hadiman bin Dato Paduka Haji Danial, CEO of Serikandi Group of Companies Revi Bhaskaran; Head of Brunei Climate Change Secretariat Noor Dina binti Haji Yahya; Managing Partner of Deloitte Zulfariq Zainuddin; Co-founder of Bake Culture Nicky Wong; and food influencer/blogger Thanis Lim.

    Haji Mohammad Yusri, in his session titled ‘Protecting your staff and businesses from risk of COVID-19’, highlighted that strict adherence and compliance to the government’s standard operating procedures as well as guidelines on precautionary measures was key in ensuring the well-being and safety of all BIBD personnel were looked after.

    ABOVE & BELOW: Food and beverage industry experts engage in discussion during the forum. PHOTOS: IZAH AZAHARI

    Some participants during the forum

    He also shared that BIBD’s business continuity plan also played a vital role in guiding the bank to navigate around the challenges of COVID-19 and in ensuring business operations remained smooth and orderly.

    BIBD also introduced several initiatives to help businesses recover and remain resilient throughout the pandemic. Through its ‘Go!’ campaign launched during the first wave of COVID-19 in Brunei, BIBD promoted conducting banking needs on its digital platforms.

    Local businesses were able to make use of BIBD Biznet allowing them to conduct business transactions online and make cashless payments to avoid the need to physically visit the
    bank’s branches.

    Meanwhile, BIBD’s corporate social responsibility initiative, Community for Brunei (CFB), launched during the first wave of COVID-19, also offered zero per cent transaction fees for micro enterprises affected by the COVID-19 control measures.

    The public is welcome to join the ‘BIBD SME360 SERIES’ on F&B industry which continues today from 2.30-5.30pm by registering at curiousmind.biz/sme360.

    The SME360 SERIES, which runs from January to May, will feature two industry highlights every month. The series of virtual forums aims to gather thought leaders and industry experts from 10 main business sectors across the Sultanate, in engagement sessions with business owners and stakeholders to discuss the challenges, best practices, perspectives and opportunities.

    The programme is organised by BIBD in collaboration with DARe as its strategic partner, co-curated by Firelight Sdn Bhd and Curious Mind. It is also supported by 10 of Brunei’s major trade association partners and key market players namely the Malay, Chinese, Indian and National Chamber of Commerce, LiveWIRE Brunei, BIMP-EAGA, Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei, RBC, McDonald’s Brunei, Serikandi Group of Companies, GoMamam, Ghanim International Corporation (bruneihalalfoods), Jab Gym, Hua Ho and Soon Lee.

    The upcoming series will cover the retail and e-commerce industry, from January 25-26. The bank hopes the SME360 Series will benefit businesses and provide all the advice and assistance towards growth of a more vibrant, dynamic and sustainable entrepreneurial environment in Brunei – consistent with the bank’s role as the Partner in Progress.

    Cross-border Syria aid gets six-month extension without new UN vote

    UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES (AFP) – Cross-border humanitarian aid to northwest Syria – not green-lit by Damascus – remains “essential,” the United Nations (UN) said, as the measure was de facto extended for six months without a new Security Council vote.

    The council had previously renewed the authorisation allowing aid into rebel-held areas in the country’s northwest “for a period of six months… until 10 January 2022,” through the crossing at Bab al-Hawa on the Syrian border with Turkey.

    The text provided for “an extension of an additional six months, that is, until 10 July 2022,” subject to a report by the UN Secretary-General.

    For the West, the renewal to July had been interpreted as automatic, while Russia had raised the possibility of requesting a new Security Council vote, though it has not taken that step.

    In his December report, UN chief Antonio Guterres had stressed the impossibility of replacing at this stage the cross-border mechanism for one that crossed front lines from Damascus.

    Moscow favours this method as recognition of the Syrian government’s sovereignty over the whole country.

    Aid through the Bab al-Hawa crossing primarily serves the roughly three million people living in the Idlib region, which remains outside Damascus’ control.

    “The cross-border delivery of aid is essential,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during his daily briefing.

    “We need aid to be delivered through cross-border and through cross-line. Those are essential elements for us to meet the humanitarian needs of all Syrians.”

    A ground crew member directs the loading of a shipment of items donated to Syria, on the tarmac of an airport. PHOTO: AP

     

    Ford plant may go online ‘early April’

    THE PHNOM PENH POST/ANN – Construction of RMA (Cambodia) Plc’s vehicle assembly plant is 100 per cent complete and installation of the facilities and equipment is nearing the 70 per cent mark, with all signs indicating that production could begin in early April, according to the locally-listed firm’s Chief Executive Officer Ngorn Saing.

    The company has reportedly received approval from Ford Motor Co to manufacture Ranger pickups and Everest SUVs, and has signed a land leasing agreement for a 4ha site in Pursat province’s easternmost district of Krakor, as well as separate contracts with a construction manager and general contractor.

    According to online news outlet Fresh News, the factory is located in Savoan village of central Krakor’s Sna Ansa commune. Ngorn Saing affirmed to The Post on Monday that the plant is in “Krakor Special Economic Zone”.

    “Based on the progress and milestones we’ve achieved, I understand we’re right on schedule to fire up the assembly line before the upcoming Khmer New Year (on April 14),” he said. But this success is also accompanied by a number of speedbumps, notably those related to expensive logistics systems, Saing underlined.

    Director-General of state-run electricity supplier Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) Keo Rottanak recently noted that the factory was the culmination of more than five years of efforts by authorities at all levels, and would contribute to the development of the province and bring new jobs for locals.

    The factory is located in Savoan village of central Krakor’s Sna Ansa commune. PHOTO: THE PHNOM PENH POST/ANN

    Barring unforeseen changes to the plan, the assembly plant “will start production during April before the Khmer New Year, within the territory of our Krakor district”, he declared.

    “We are now trying to convince them (RMA) to bring in more of their partners to produce components in the territory of Krakor,” he said.

    Saing recognised that the smooth progress of work on the plant was due to the support of authorities at every level, especially the preferential tax treatment received from the government and the assistance provided by the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

    He said 200 employees had been recruited and trained for the first phase of the factory and would start work in late March or early April. Up to 500 workers will be needed in the second phase, he added.

    “At this initial stage, we will assemble 4,500 vehicles a year to meet market demand. But the factory’s total annual production capacity is up to 10,000 units,” he said.

    According to Saing, Ford has topped the domestic new-vehicle market for a number of years consecutively, with a 45-per-cent market share.

    Brunei-China trade volume records repeated new highs

    James Kon

    In the past five years, bilateral trade volumes between Brunei Darussalam and China increased by 2.5 times. China’s investment in the Sultanate has jumped by nearly seven times. During the pandemic, cooperation between both countries showed strong resilience, and the trade volume has grown, repeatedly recording new highs.

    Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong said this yesterday in her capacity as guest of honour at a re-election ceremony for Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association President Jackson Ting for the 2022-2024 term. The official appointment letter presentation and oath-taking ceremony was held last week.

    Yu Hong highlighted the importance of the One Belt One Road initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    “In November last year, the third symposium on the development of the BRI and the third symposium on the Belt and Road construction, were held in Beijing where President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. Since its inception, the BRI has shown thriving vigour and vitality, benefitting the countries and people along the route. It has become the most extensive and largest international cooperation platform in the world today, bringing tangible benefits to the development of countries along the route.

    “In the face of the pandemic, the BRI has shown resilience and vitality by making positive contributions to countries combatting COVID-19, stabilising the economy and promoting people’s livelihood of the countries involved. China has signed 206 cooperation documents on the joint construction development in the ‘Belt and Road’ BRI, with 140 countries and 32 international organisations. After eight years, the circle of friends of the ‘Belt and Road’ BRI has expanded, with the number of partners increasing, the quality of cooperation getting higher and the development prospects getting better.”

    She pointed out that BRI flagship projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, China-Laos Railway, Budapest-Belgrade Railway, Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, Gwadar Port and Hambantota Port are projects that have brought benefits to locals.

    ABOVE & BELOW: Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong delivers her speech; and Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association President Jackson Ting. PHOTOS: JAMES KON

    Yu Hong witnesses Jackson Ting signing the official appointment letter

    The Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association, she said, “was established in 2018. Its establishment reflects the forward-looking vision of its president, Jackson Ting, and outstanding insights of the founding directors. With the support of the governments of countries as well as enterprises and people from all walks of life, the ‘Belt and Road’ China-Brunei BRI cooperation has achieved fruitful and commendable results.”

    Yu Hong added, “In 2018, Brunei Darussalam and China upgraded their bilateral relationship to a ‘strategic cooperative partnership’ and signed the ‘Belt and Road’ cooperation plan. In 2019, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China.

    Both governments have established a joint steering committee, of which two meetings have been held on intergovernmental cooperation. The communications of both governments have been continuously strengthened. The areas of cooperation between the two countries continue to expand and deepen,” she added.

    Meanwhile, Ting highlighted that just as things were starting to move following the association’s establishment, COVID had hit. This has meant that the association has not been able to carry out much of its promised activities, he said.

    He expressed hopes the association would continue to move forward and contribute to cultural exchanges, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between both countries.

    The Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association sees Lim Han Chiong and Zhang Qingrui holding the position of Vice Presidents of the Executive Committee; and Lau Shiew Yuan, Tan Kah Boon, Chieng Ing Nang, Lau How Teck, Lau Kah Huon, Dato Tiong Ing Ping, Dato Lai Heng Wai, and Yang Chow Min as vice presidents.

    Iraq takes back 111 IS-linked families from Syria

    MOSUL, IRAQ (AFP) – Iraqi authorities have repatriated 111 Iraqi families linked to the Islamic State (IS) group from a Kurdish-run camp in northern Syria, a local official said.

    They arrived on Saturday and were transferred to Al-Jadaa camp south of Mosul, in Nineveh province, said the official who declined to be named.

    Since May 2021, at least 339 families linked to the extremist IS group have been moved from Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria to Al-Jadaa which hosts around 7,500 internally displaced people.

    These include families of extremists, some of whom hail from other parts of Iraq, including the provinces of Salaheddine and Ramadi, according to Iraqi authorities.

    The prospect of their return to their places of origin has sparked concern among residents who survived the brutal rule of IS when it occupied one third of Iraq between 2014 and 2017.

    In late 2017, Iraq declared “victory” over IS after driving the extremists from all urban areas, with support from a United States (US)-led coalition.

    Iraqi authorities announced last month their intention to close Al-Jadaa, the last camp sheltering displaced in Iraq, outside of the autonomous region of Kurdistan.

    But the process is long and facing resistance from local populations who don’t want IS families among them.

    According to the International Organisation for Migration, six million Iraqis were displaced during the IS rule.

    Around 1.2 million of them still have not been able to go home, including more than 100,000 who live outside camps in “informal sites”.

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    Borneo Bulletin is the leading English daily in the country. It was first published by Brunei Press. Today, Borneo Bulletin has become the foremost source of information on local and foreign affairs, and the region’s business news.

    © 2013 Borneo Bulletin Online - The Independent Newspaper in Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak